Flexible strap, band, or linkage



June 2, 1931. c. H. Kl-:s'rENn/LmA 1,808,140

FLEXIBLE STRAP, BAND, OR LINKAGE Filed oct; 25, 192s A Patentedv June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES :PATENT OFFICE CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, or PRoviDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,AssrcrNoR To KESTENMAN BROS. MEG. co., OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND FLEXIBLE STRAP, BAND, R LINIKAGE Appiication filed october 23, 19,28.` serial No. 314,486.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible metal straps, bands or linkages for use in the manufacture of bracelets, chains, belts and other articles of jewelry or like nature. Y f

One obj ect of the invention is to provide a. device of the type specified having relatively flat link-units -or chain-elements connected together in articulated. relation to adapt the strap, band or linkage to flex readily to t the contour of the wrist or other lbody on which it is worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe type specified in which Ythe link-units or chain-elements are smoothly joined together without disclosing unsightly seams, and which may be flexed to a considerable extent without revealing open joints.

Another object of the invention Ais to propart of the vide a device of the type specified in which the .link-units or chain-elements are of boxlike construction and joined together by connecting-links which are entirely concealed `from view.

Further Aobjects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention as illustrated by the acc-ompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. I is a perspectivefview illustrating the improved strap, band orlinkage adapted for .use as a bracelet and having clasps at its ends for attaching it'to the bails of a wrist-watch; 'Fig 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a `section of the improved strap, band'l or linkage; V

Fig; 3 1s a still further enlarged fof a section ofthe same; i y i Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the side view Fig.5 is a perspective viewy of the connectv ying-link which joins the box-like elements of the strap, band or linkage; and' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the box-link at, oblong blocks arranged in abutting relastrap,- band or linkage taken on line-4 4 of l tion and having an unbroken surface on the top and sides devoid of any indication of the mechanical means whichconnect the parts together. The linkage compris-es .a plurality yof elements of two different formsalternating inseries, the main link-element 2 being constructed from a sheet-metal blank folded into box-like shape asshown in'Fig. 6. I

The box-link 2 hasaflat top 3 of relatively narrow width, sides 4v bent at right-angles `thereto and folded inwardly to form bottom walls 5 extending in a plane parallel with .thatV of the top of the link withtheir edges abutting in a `close seam 6see Fig; 4. As indicated in Fig. 6, the sides 4 are first bent to stand at right angles to the top of the link Yand then folded on a line representedat Q-V `to form the bottom walls of thelink. The top 3 of the' link 2j is extended slightly between the ends of its sides 4 and bottom walls 5 and then folded at right-angles to provide the end closures 7, AThe end closures 7 are thus spaced a slight distance away Vfrom the edges of the sides and bottomrwalls of the link to provide an opening for receiving the end-strips of the connecting-link 10 which is i of a construction as next described.v

Referring to Fig. 5, the connecting-link *lO .is kconstructed from a flat sheet-metalblank stamped out to provide'l tworelatively nar- Vrow, parallel cross-bars`-1l joined atrtheir endsbythe strips 12. 4rlhercross-bars l1 are bent orfolded' at their opposite ends to bring the end strips 1 2 into planes at'right-angles to the main plane of the bars.

In assembling the elements to form the strap, bandi or linkage,;the connecting-link 10 is placed in position straddling the sides 4 ,of two adjacent box-link elements 2. Usually one or both'of the ybottom walls 5 of the` box-'link 2 is vleft without being folded in order toV facilitateplacing the connecting` links in lstraddled relation thereon.V In some cases one side ofthe box may be folded over as shown in F ig.' 6 andthe connecting-link Ail()l hookedv into place' tlliereover Vwhile onV the next succeeding boxl itwil-l be'fplaced overthe -un'bentside which isfi-ndicated in Fig; 6 as standing inperpendicular relation'to the top 3 of the boxf..- In assemblingthe units the connecting-link 10 is turned over or inverted from the posit-ion shown in Fig. v5 so that when it is placed in straddled position on the sides of two adjoining box-links 2 its crossbars l1 will lie flat against the under side of the top of the box-link.V That is to say, Fig. Villustratesfthe connecting-link 10 in the position which it assumes when the bracelet is right side up gpwhereas Fig.6 shows the box-.link in inverted position or turned over with its bottom side up. Y'

After the connecting-links l() have been asl sembled with the box-links 2in the manner as above explained, the bottom walls 5-of Y the box are folded over to bring their longitudinal edges iii-abutting relation as 4shown in Eig. 4, with the eross-barsil held closely ib'etweenthe top and bottom of the box. With `this association of theel'ements the end-strips V12 on 'the' connecting-link 10 will be disposed i in the openings between 'the ends of thesides an'dbott'om walls ofthe box-link and its end closures?. The end walls 'of the box-links -2 are thus caused to completely cover and conceal the 'joints between the connectinglinks l0 and the box-links, thereby giving an extremely smooth, iinifshed appearance -to the edges of the strap, band or linkage as indicated in Fig. l. Referring to Fig. 3, a

slight space intervenes between theadj oining edges of the end walls 7 of the several boxlinks of the band so that the link-'elements may be clant'ed 'slightly one in relation to an- Aother toiiex'the whole linkage in the manner 35` A as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be observed from the above that my invention vprovides a particularly simple and ingeni'oi'is form of construction for connectingthe several box-links of theband in close association while allowing the flexing vof the whole linkage. Through the improved arrangement of the overlapping flaps or closures at both ends of the box-link 2 the jointsy betweenthe boxes and' their connect- Ving-links are Yentirelycovered so as to conceal the mechanical construction of the bracelet 'a-'s viewed from'the top-or along its sides. A

The improved construction v' as herein lshown and described `not only-provides for greaterneatnes's anda more iinishedlappearanc'e ofthe whole band or bracelet,`but fur- Y Yfther'makes -for greater 'simplicity andeconoiny in the manufacture 0f the..v linkage.

Moreover, the improved construction 'shown 'and described' is` particularly strong and t sturdy to render the bracelet or other article durable use lwith its elements not liable to become ydisjointed orl stretched apart.

AVhile I have vherein showniand described a'preferred embodiment of the device itis to he understood that various modifications maybe made inthe structure and arrangewmenftoff itsparts without departing from the Y E5 fspiritr'scopeof theinvention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A flexibleA strap, band or linkage comprisingV a plurality of outer box-like link-- elements having top, side, bottom and end Walls, the end walls being spaced away from the ends ofthe side and bottom walls to provide openings therebetween at both ends of Vthe link; and inner connectinglinks having transversebars connected 'by end strips occupyingpl'anes at right-angles tothe 'plane of said-transverse bars; the inner links being straddled across the adjacent side walls of adjoining outer box-linksbetween the top and bottom walls thereof with their end strips disposed within the openings `between the ends of the side Vand bottomwalls and the Vend walls of the outer box-'link and covered by the top Wallthereof, whereby the connectinglinks are completely concealed from view on "the top and sides of the linkage.

2. A flexible strap, bandor linkage v4comprising a plurality ofjouter box-like link-elements each having a top wall, sides folded downwardly therefromand endA walls folded downwardly from the top in 'spaced' Irelation with respect to the ends' of the fside walls to provide openings through the sides of the box-link at both endsthereof; and inner connecting-links having parallel crossbars joined by end strips bent at right-angles to the plane of the cross-bars; the side walls of the box-links being Vinserted through the openings between the cross-bars of the connecting-links and folded therearound to con- -nect the parts in articulated relation with `the Vend strips of thev connecting-links disposed downwardly from the top of 'the boxes; and

connecting-links `comprising parallel vbars 'joined by end stripsextending in planes at' right-angles to the plane of the bars :the boxlinks being joined in series by the connecting! links straddling theirside walls and thel end stripsof the connecting-'links beingdisposed in the -space between the kedges of the side and bottom walls and the end walls in parallelism to saidend walls'of the box-flink whereby to cover the joints and conceal the yconnections between the parts. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMANN 

